Description of Historic Place

Building 200, also known as the former Northwest Highway System Headquarters, is situated on the former Camp Takhini military base. The rectangular structure features a two-storey, central portico with large, rectangular, freestanding columns flanked by long, symmetrical wings. Smooth streamlined concrete surfaces increase the building’s horizontal emphasis and contrast with the vertical emphasis of the portico. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

Building 200 is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental values.

Historical Value
Building 200 is very closely associated with the development of the north by the federal government, particularly with regard to surface transportation infrastructure. Built as a principal barrack for the military base, it later became the building that served as the headquarters for the maintenance and development of the Alaska Highway in the post Second World War period. As one of Camp Takhini’s earliest and most prominent buildings, it also illustrates the importance of the establishment of the military base to the community of Whitehorse.

Architectural Value
Building 200 is valued for its very good aesthetic qualities. Built to a Department of National Defence plan, it is a blend of classical composition and modernist design elements. Its smooth streamlined surfaces and long, clean composition are executed in a flattened, stylized manner. The result was a modern and sophisticated building for early 1950s Whitehorse. The structure exhibits good craftsmanship and materials.

Environmental Value
Building 200 reinforces the institutional character of the former Camp Takhini and is a familiar local landmark to those working in the vicinity.

Sources: James De Jonge, Northwest Highway System Headquarters (Building No. 200), 200 Range Road (Takhini Subdivision) Whitehorse, Yukon, Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office Report Notes 91-174; Building No. 200 (former Northwest Highway System Headquarters), 200 Range Road, Whitehorse, Yukon, Heritage Character Statement 91-174.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of Building 200 should be respected.

Its Classical Moderne design and good craftsmanship and materials, for example: the large, two-storey massing of the flat roofed structure; the distinctive, raised central entrance portico with large freestanding columns;
the long, symmetrical wings with ends recessed back from the front elevation; the smooth streamlined surfaces, geometric volumes, restrained form, and absence of decorative detailing; the evenly spaced, long rectangular windows of the wings and narrow rectangular windows of the recessed ends; the narrow stringcourses and bands that run along the base of the windows and along the edge of the roof; the entrance foyer and stairs.

The manner in which Building 200 reinforces the institutional character of the former Camp Takhini setting and is a familiar local landmark to those working in the vicinity, as evidenced by: its form, materials and details, which are compatible with the institutional character of the setting and with the other former administrative and former operational buildings of the former Camp Takhini military base; its visibility owing to its large scale and its familiarity given its freestanding, open location make it known to those that work at and visit the headquarters.

Heritage Character Statement

Disclaimer - The heritage character statement was developed by FHBRO to explain the reasons for the designation of a federal heritage building and what it is about the building that makes it significant (the heritage character). It is a key reference document for anyone involved in planning interventions to federal heritage buildings and is used by FHBRO in their review of interventions.

Building No. 200 was constructed in 1951-52 by the Department of National Defence to designs by its Directorate of Works and Accommodation. Built as the principal barrack block at the former military base of Camp Takhini, the operational headquarters for the Northwest Highway System was moved into the building in 1955. The building has served as the headquarters for the maintenance and development of the Alaska Highway since that date. Public Works Canada is the custodian of the building. See FHBRO Building Report 91-174.

Reasons for Designation

Building No. 200 has been designated Recognized because of its historical associations, its architectural design and the integrity of its site.

As the main administration building for the Alaska Highway in the post-war period, the building has strong associations with the development of the north by the federal government, particularly with regard to surface transportation infrastructure. As one of Camp Takhini's earliest and most prominent buildings, it also illustrates the importance of the establishment of the military base to the community of Whitehorse.

Built to a standard DND plan, Building No. 200 is a blend of classical composition and modernist design elements. The smooth streamlined surfaces and long, clean composition executed in a flattened, stylized manner resulted in a modern and sophisticated building for early 1950s Whitehorse.

Despite some minor changes, the site retains its plain, institutional character, and this part of Range Road, occupied by the former administrative and operational buildings of the Camp Takhini military base, retains the character of the base. Because of its size and its attractive design, Building No. 200 is the predominant building in the group.

Character Defining Elements

The heritage value of Building No. 200 resides in those characteristics which identify it it as a part of the former Camp Tahkini and the Northwest Highway System, as well as in its Classical Moderne design and its open, green site.

Building No. 200 is a large, two-storey building constructed in monolithic concrete. Architecturally, it represents a blend of both classical and modernist design. Its composition - a distinctive raised, central, entrance portico with large free-standing columns flanked by long symmetrical wings - is classical in inspiration. The ends of the wings are stepped back from the front elevation, softening the overall composition. Modernism is strongly expressed through the simplicity of the building's overall massing and geometric volumes, restrained form, and smooth surfaces. The absence of decorative detailing and the strong horizontal emphasis created by the window bands and string courses on the wings are also modernist features. The grillwork pattern in the three tall windows above the doors in the entrance portico is characteristic of the 1950s design and should be retained.

The main entrance foyer and stairs are in their historic location and configuration. These should remain. Otherwise the layout of the remainder of the building has been considerably altered and could be managed with some flexibility in the future.

Building No. 200 is the most attractive and visually conspicuous building of the former Camp Takhini military base. Any future site development should not diminish this characteristic prominence.